, 1887-03-09
BEECHER DEAD.
The Distinguished Pastor of
Plymouth Church
Passes Quietly and Painlessly
Away.
Terrible Accident on the Ele-
waited Railroad.
Beecher's Death.

Ward Beecher died at $3.50 this morning
in the presence of most of the members OF
his family.
K. A. Seacombe, one of the trustees OF
the Plymouth church, left the house at
1890 this morning. He said DR.. Pcarley
had noticed a change in the patients con-
dition at $3.50 a. M. and summoned all in
the house to the bedside. momentarily
expecting his death, but he fingered much
longer than had been anticipated. He
passed away gradually and almost imper-
ceptibly. drawing his last breath without
apparent suffering or return to conscious
ness in any degree. Mrs. Beecher, said
Seacombe. bore up wonderfully and with
marvellous courage. No Grape was
hung on the door, Beecher having
always objected to the use Of
this and the gloom associated
with it in the presence of death. Instead,
a magnificent wreath of flowers hung
from the left side of the doorway at the
top OF the steps, composed OF white and
red roses and lilies of the valley and tied
up with white satin.
At 1920 it was given out that the fun
eral would take place in Greenwood
Thursday mex Some time ago II. W.
Sage, a member Of Plymouth church, APP
propriated by will a sum of money to
place a statue of Beecher in Prospect
park after his decease. Quincy " God,
the vel known sculptor, who is to do the
work, will call at the house in the course
of the day for the purpose of making
a plaster cast of his features. 1t is not
intended that eny examination shall be
made of Beecher's brain organism.
The news of Beecher's death spread
very quickly to all parts Of this city and
Brooklyn. 1t may now be said to be a
city of morning, even those who did not
always concur with Beecher in his views,
had no hesitation in expressing their deep
regret at his death. AS a mark of re-
spect to his memory, flags on all public
buildings were placed at half mast, and
Mayor Whitney had the city hall bell
tolled.
The funeral will occur Thursday, with
services at the church at ll:2O. DR.. G..
III. Hall will deliver the funeral grafton.
DR.. Searle makes the following verbal
statement in regard to the distinguished
divine's last hours:
"Beecher began to fail decidedly at 3
o'clock this morning, respiration rapid.
AT 4 O'Clock the family was summoned.
Death came slowly and stealthily. Respi-
ration gradually became faster and faster
until they reached sixty a minute, one
each second, with pulse variable and often
reaching l40. He still remained in the
same condition, except his breathing, and
his eyes were closed and he was entirely
unconscious. The motion of the right
arm became less frequent, and finally
stopped almost entirely. About 9 o'clock
in the morning we could detect the first
symptoms of immediate death. His
pulse ran up still higher, fickered and
fuctuated until 9:2S, two minutes before
his death. His pulse ceased almost en-
tirely at the wrist. 1t was so faint that
it could hardly be detected, and then
stopped altogether. There was a rafting
in his throat, painful to those around
him, but unfelt by him owing to the fail
ure of the nerve center, of the respiratory
organs, together with the failure of the
heart action. His death, which came at
$50, was very easy and as painless if not
as pleasant as death from suffocation.